Cigarette lighter



June 11, 1940. l. FLoRMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTER FiledSept. 27. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [rr/)75 ZV/arman,

June 11, 1940. l. FLoRMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTERl Filed sept.4 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lighter in partly open position with one of the "Patented June 11, 1940 N.ari-:Nr trios `2,203,681 CIGARETTE LIGHTER Irving Florman, New York, N. Y. Applicationseptember'. 1937, Serial No. 165,991 6 claims. `(o1. 67-7) My invention. relates to cigarette lighters and particularly to lightersof the catalytic iiameless` type.

I'he primary object of the inventionis to -provide a. lighter ofv this type which is simple and easy tooperate, andwhichcan be conveniently p carried in the` pocket of the'user.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a. lighter formed of two casing sections which upon separating movement expose the lighting i element, with means for sealing oilthe lighting element from the fuel chamber and also for closing the fuel chamber when the two casing sections are brought together.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a lighter of this type most. of the parts of which can' be produced bydie-casting of metaL i or molded of` plastic material.

Still another object. of the invention is` to provide a lighter in whichtheaxis of the ignition element is transverse. to the direction of movement of the casing partsfwhile the passage coni necting this element.. to the fuel chamber is` parallel. to such direction at least. in part,` `with means carried by one of the sect-ions slidable in. such parallel part of the passage for. sealing it and thus closing. off communication betweenthe igniting element andthefuel chamber.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide means movable without one of the casing sections to engage and f cover` the lighting element when the casing sections are closedso as to protect it and exclude air. therefrom.

p Further objects and advantagesof the invention will appear more. fullyfrom .the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the drawings, which form a. part thereof:

In the drawings: Fig. l is a side elevation of my lighter in .closed position;

' Fig.` 2 is a similar View of the samein. open, operative position; i

Fig. 3 is a top plan .View of the same;

Fig. 4 is a cross section` on the line 4 4. of

Fig..1;. i

Fig. 5 is a cross sectionon `the line 5 @5 of Fig. 2; p p p Fig. 6 is a cross sectionV on the` line 6-5 of Fig.`3;

Fig. 7 is a sideelevationof one end of the casing sections removed;

Fig. .8 is.` a cross section on the line .ll-18.` of i Fig. 7.

As. shown, the casing comprises two relatively slidable sections 2 ands. Mounted by a friction fit within the section 2 andfextendingbeyondthe open end` thereof is a die-cast or molded plastic element generally indicated at 6. comprises a section 8"forming a fuel chamber which is filled with absorbent cotton lil or other suitable material for. holding fuel. The fuel chamber isclosedby a top or end wall I2 except for the passages to be described below. This fuel chamber fills substantially the whole of the base casing section 2.

, The die-cast'member 8 extends out into the cover section 4, having a block or projection It of substantially solid metal with certain passages therein, and on which the coversecticn 4'is slidably guided. The passages in theblock include a large bore lopen at the end nearest the cover and having at its inner end a seat i8l communi-- eating vwith the fuelchamber. This bore extends in thedirection of movement of the casing sections. Also `located in the block M is an aperture 20 communicating with the passage `it and extending transversely thereto. Furthermore, near one edge of the lighter there is provided in the block` I4 a small aperture 24 within the end Wall of chamber l0.

Arranged above the mouth of the passage 20 is a shoulder 26 which forms a sea for a cup 3u. Saidcup 3D is frictionally held by the walls adjacent the shoulder 26. The bottom of cup 30 is perforated at 36, and supports aV catalytic material 34 of a well known type. A screen` 3.2 covers the material 34.

This type of lighter is well known, in which35 when a cigarette is applied to the catalytic pill or `lighting `element and suction applied it will draw vapors through the catalyst, which will ben come sufliciently hot to ignite the cigarette.

Mounted inthe cover section 4 isa plaie or element, 38 which is secured to the end wall of` the cover. Rigidly mounted on member 38 and extending into passage lli is a cylinder ill having a free end adapted to engage within a ring or ferrule 44 `of rubber or other packing material arranged in thebottom ofthe passage I6. lit is evident, as shown in Fig. 5, that when the `cover member Il is pushed into closed position the plunger 4i] will engage in the `ring 4d and thus will seal the passage between the fuel chamber 6 and the catalytic pill 30. Thus when the lighter is notin use there is no passage for fuel from `the fuel chamber to the pill. As scon, however, as the casing sections are pulled apart the This element 5 pill is exposed through the opening therebetween and communication is opened between the pill and the fuel chamber.

At the same time, the plate 38 is extended into a spring member 46 which carries a cushion 66 of rubber opposite the aperture 24, so as to seal the other opening of the fuel chamber when the casing sections are brought together.

There is also provided an extension 4B on the plate 38 of flat spring metal. This plate, when the casing sections are moved together, engages and overlies the upper edges of cup so as to close it off from` the atmosphere. Obviously when the casing sections are open plate 48 moves off and uncovers the cup as shown in Fig. `2.

In order to limit the relative movement between the casing sections, I provide grooves 52 in the opposite sides of block I4, these grooves having at their ends ridges or shoulders 54. Se-

cured to the plate 38 are extensions or tongues` having at their free ends noses or hooks 58. The noses 58 run in the grooves 52, while the members 56 slide past the ridges 54. When the cover is moved outwardly until the plate 38 reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, the noses 58 engage the gsgridges 54 and thusr prevent further separating movement between the cover and the lighter body. v

In order to fill the lighter, the cup 30 is gripped and pulled out of the casing. The device is then ,lled by pouring fuel into the opening `17.0, after which the catalytic element is replaced.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I do not intendto limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: l. A cigarette lighter comprising two sections substantially centrally divided and together forming a casing, a die-cast member mounted in one ,ypf said casing sections, said member having a space therein forming a fuel chamber, and having a projection extending from the said casing section, the second casing section rbeing slidablyv engaged in said projection, said projection having fa passage thereinl extending in the direction of relative movement of said sections and communicating with said fuel chamber and extending to ythe end of said projection, and a second passage communicating with said first passage and at an ,bangle thereto, a ilameless catalytic ignition element mounted in the end of said second passage, a sealing member at `the inner end of said'first passage, a cylindrical member carried by said second casing section and slidable in said first passage and having an end engageable with said sealing` member.

' 2. A cigarette lighter comprising two sections substantially centrally divided and together forming a casing, a die-cast member mounted-in one of said casing sections, said member having a space therein forming a fuel chamber, and having a projectionl extending from the said casing section, the second casing section being slidably engaged on said projection, said projection having a passage therein extending in the direction of relative movement Vof said sections and communicating with said fuel chamber and extending to the end of said projection, and a second passage communicating with said first passage `'and at an angle thereto, a flameless catalytic ignition element mounted in the end of said second passage, ay sealing member at the inner end in said first passage and having an end engage-' able with said sealing member, and a flat plate carried by said second casing section and slidable to a position above and engaging said ignition element. l

3. A `cigarette lighter comprising two sections substantially centrallyy divided and together forming a casing, a die-cast member mounted in one of said casing sections, said member having a space therein forming a fuel chamber, and having a projection extending from the said casing section, the second casing section being slidably engaged on said projection, said proje'ction having a passage therein extending in the direction of relative movement of said sections and communicating With said fuel chamber and extending to the end of said projection, and a second passage communicating with said first passage and at an angle thereto, a `nameless catalytic ignition element mounted in the end of said second passage, a sealing member at the forming a casing, a die-cast member mounted in f one of said casing sections, said member having a space therein forming a fuel chamber, and having a projection extending from the said casing section, the second casing section being slidably engaged on said projection, said projection having a passage therein extending in the direction of relative movement of said sections and communicating with said fuel chamber and extending to the end of said projection, and a second passage communicating with said first passage and at an angle thereto, a flameless catalytic ignition element mounted in the end of said second passage, a sealing member at the inner end of said first passage, a cylindrical member carried by said second casing section and slidable in said first passage and having an end engageable with said sealing member, and a flat plate carried by said second casing section and slidable to a position above and engagingsaid ignition element, said projection further having a passage therein communicating with said fuel chamber andmeans carried by the second casing sectionfor closing said passage, said projection having grooves in opposed sides thereof provided at their outer ends with ridges, and exible resilient members carried by said second'section having noses engaging in said grooves whereby to limit relative sliding movement between said sections.

jection having a passage therein communicating with said fuel chamber, a flameless catalytic ignition element mounted in communication with said passage, means carried by said second caslng section operable upon relative closing movement between the'sections to close said passage,

said projection having grooves in opposed sides thereof provided at their outer ends With ridges,

`and flexible resilient members carried by said Second section having noses engaging in said grooves whereby to limit relative sliding movement between said sections.

6. A device as claimed in `claim 5 in which the axis of saidlighting element is `perpendicular to the direeton of sliding movement between the sections.

IRVING FLORA/IAN. 5 

